Legendary Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin expressed satisfaction with skipper Suryakumar Yadav’s cameo in the fourth T20I of the five-match series against Australia. The match was held at Carrara Oval in Queensland on Thursday, November 6.
Asked to bat first, India finished at 167/8 in their 20 overs, with Shubman Gill top-scoring with 46 off 39 balls, including four fours and one six. Meanwhile, skipper Suryakumar Yadav walked in at No. 4 and made 20 off 10 balls, including two sixes.
In response, Washington Sundar took three wickets as the hosts were bowled out for 119 in 18.2 overs, losing the game by 48 runs.
Following the match, during a discussion on his YouTube channel, Ashwin lauded Suryakumar’s timely knock and said:
“10 balls for 20 from Suryakumar Yadav was extremely valuable. I always think in T20 cricket, 10 balls for 20 at a 200 strike rate is more valuable because even today, Abhishek and Shubman had a decent partnership at the opening. So Surya came in and gave that amazing impetus and momentum. I would always think 10 balls for 20 is way more valuable than a strike rate of less than 125, 120, or 130 in a T20 game, unless, of course, you are chasing a game.”
He added, “If you’re chasing and players are going all out and blazing away, on one side you have to play in double gear, but today, with the wicket, everyone knows that 160 is a good score. So the way Shubman paced the innings, that’s the way he had to play, and he did that. So credit where it’s due, but I am happy with Surya’s 10-balls-20, what he could do, he did.”
Overall, in four games so far, Suryakumar has scored 84 runs at an average of 28.00 and a strike rate of 171.42.
**“Someone you cannot hit so easily” – R Ashwin heaps praise on India all-rounder**
In the same video, Ravichandran Ashwin praised Axar Patel, who won the Player of the Match award in the fourth T20I for his unbeaten 21 off 11 balls and for taking two wickets. The 39-year-old commended Axar’s bowling skills, saying:
“One thing I noticed about Axar is that batsmen are getting done on the inside, especially right-handers. Always, if you look at left-arm spinners bowling to right-handers, when they bowl quick, the ball comes inside like an arm ball. But for Axar, even when he bowls slower, the ball drops and comes in slowly like that.”
“Several times, Marsh tried to go over the covers, and Josh Inglis tried as well, but still the ball hit inside and went to the leg side.”
He continued, “So Axar’s beauty is in the changing of pace, but still not allowing the ball to go on the same line. Either the ball stops and spins a little, or the ball stops and comes inside on the same line. That makes it often a little tricky for the batsman, someone you cannot hit so easily.”
“The only challenge the Indian spin bowling attack might have in India is where the match is being played and how small the ground is. That is the only thing that will dictate how it goes,” he added.
India and Australia will return to action for the final T20I on Saturday, November 8, at The Gabba in Brisbane.
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